Split nail or tack



(No Model.) I

R. S. PIGKETT.

SPLIT NAIL 0R TACK.

No. 323,200.. Patented July 28, 1885.

6%WJM? %M@%Z%MW 4 MM %w7 QM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS S. PICKETT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

SPLIT NAIL OR TACK.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,200, dated July281883.

I Application filed February 2, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUS S. PIOKETT, of New Haven, in the county of NewHaven,and in the State of Connecticut, have inventedcertain new anduseful Improvements in Split Nails or Tacks; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1shows a view in'elevation of my improved nail or tack, enlarged so as toshow the details of its form more clearly; Fig. 2, a sectional View ofthe same on line 00 w of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an end view of the same as itappears when looking at its point, and Fig. 4a

detail vertical sectional view of thelowerportion of one of the prongsor legs of the nail or tack.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The object of my invention is to provide an improvement in split nailsor tacks.

In the drawings, A designates the head of the tack or nail,and B theshank of the same, pro- 2 5 vided with thelongitudinal slot C, extendingfrom the point Well up toward the head A. In crosssection, as shown inFig. 2, the tack or nail is oblong or oval, the corners of the oblongbeing rounded so that the oblong has rounded ends. The slot C isparallel to the rounded edges or sides of the shank. At the point theends of the prongs are beveled inward on each side toward the slot C.Instead of making this bevel plane,I prefer to make it concave, as shownin the drawings. The bevel of each prong end is concaved not onlytransversely, but also longitudinally. This leaves not only a muchsharper cutting-edge at the extremepoint of each prong thanaplane bevelwould, but also makes sharp edges extending some distance up the sidesof the prong ends. As I have found by experiment, making theprong-points of this peculiar shape insures the easiest penetration, andalso the easy and uni- 45 form spread of the points, so that they shalltake the best and firmest hold 011 the material into which they aredriven.

In practice my tacks are made of fiat roundedged wire, a cross-sectionof which couldbe 5 called an oblong with rounded ends. This peculiarform of wire or blank leaves the nail or tack,after slotting,with fullstrong prongs of great holding-power,and of such shape that the holemade in the material with which it is used by it or to receive it doesnot have to be of such size or shape as to weaken the material, as isthe case where round or square nails or tacks are used. My nail or tackis also much easier made than round or square ones, as there is lessstock to cut away at the slotting of the point than in such other forms.In making it, the mill which is used to cut the slot is so formed thatit cuts the peculiar form of concave bevel of the prong ends at the sametime. As indicated already hereinbefore,this concaving of the prong endbevels is an important point, as better and sharper cuttingedges at theprong ends can be obtained thereby.

The bevels of the prong ends of the ordinary 70 and well-known forms ofthe split nails or tacks can obviously be to advantage coneaved, as setforth herein, to secure the best cuttingpoints.

My nail or tack as described is especially well suited for securelyfastening leather or metal plates to any part or parts of rubber shoesor boots that need to be protected, but is also suited for use whereversplit nails or tacks are applicable.

The mill used is so formed that both curvatures or concaves of the bevelend of each prong are of the same radius.

Ihaveinvented an improved method of using my split nail or tack asdescribed above, as well as other well-known forms of split nails ortacks. Such method is fully described, set

'forth, and covered in an application filed by me June 3, 1885, as adivision of this applica tion. I do not, therefore, herein claim anyparticular method of using the nail or tack described and shown, butlimit myself to the article.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is 1. As an article ofmanufacture, a nail or tack having its shank in cross-section and oblongwith rounded ends, and provided with a longitudinal slot cut in theshank parallel to the rounded edges or side thereof, substan- IOO tiallyas and for the purpose described.

2. As an article of manufacture, a split nail or tack having the ends ofits prongs In testimony that I claim the foregoing I formed with aconcave bevel, substantially as have hereunto set my hand this 12th dayof 10 and for the purpose described. January, A. D. 1885.

3. As an article of manufacture a split or 1 w 5 slotted nail or tackhaving the ends of its RUFUS PIGKETI" prongs beveled, and such beveledportions con- \Vit nesses: caved both longitudinally and transversely,JOHN H. POST, substantially as and for the purpose described. LOUIs S.DAY.

